The Spanish minor requirements have given me a wonderful excuse to come study in Oaxaca, Mexico for January. The first week of our time here is drawing to a close. The days have gone by quickly, but have been jam-packed with all sorts of learning, exploration, and new experiences. All five senses have received quite a shock; the sight of bright colors of beautiful buildings and plants and life filling every square inch of the vibrant streets are a very welcome change, as is the feeling of the sun in the 75-80° heat every day. New smells and tastes abound— the food has yet to disappoint, and I’ve eaten more new foods in the past week than I have in quite a while. And of course, our ears have been filled with the sounds of Spanish speech, rather than the English we’ve always been surrounded by. Already I can tell my comprehension has improved significantly, and every day the conversations between me and my host family and the people around me become a little more fluid.

I’ve especially enjoyed the times when I can participate in Oaxacan life outside the context of being a foreign student. Living with a host family rather than with my familiar U.S. classmates, for example, has given me a nice glimpse into what life is like here. I also really enjoy the times (daily before lunch and in the evenings) when we have the chance to explore the city.

On Saturday, the first non-school day, we had a bit of a change of pace. In place of class, we had an excursion outside the city.  After a 30-minute, very bumpy bus ride up the hills out of the valley we’re residing in, we arrived to Monte Albán, an ancient archaeological site. We spent some time here, sun beating down on us from a cloudless sky, as we learned about the history of the impressive structures and the lives of the people that built them. From 500 BCE to 800 AD, this was the central home of the Zapotec (“people of the clouds”, as they lived up in the mountains), and one of the first major cities of Mesopotamian civilizations. After Monte Albán, we made our way to a nearby puebla, Arrazola. In Arrazola, we got a brief introduction to some of the people there and the impressive art they create. Alebrijes are a type of sculpture, usually of animals, which are carved from wood and painted with bright, intricate patterns. It was interesting to see some of the process of how they’re made, and to browse around at the many they had displayed.

It’s been a pretty incredible week, and I can’t wait to see what the next couple weeks have in store for us!

-Cat